In the UK it is common for households to rely on a boiler for both heating and hot water. Although boilers can be very effective and reliable, problems can occur so knowing how to fix it is important. We want to help you avoid getting frustrated and wasting time looking for answers online so we prepared a guide explaining what to do if your boiler is working but there is no hot water.
Where to start
To determine potential causes of the problem and be able to eliminate them later, here are some things you need to check in the first place.
- Check if you have electricity, gas, and water
The first thing you should do is to make sure that your boiler is actually working. Make sure to check the boiler control panel – if there is a digital display but nothing is showing on it, there might be no power. This can be due to various reasons such as there being a power cut in your area. To verify that, check whether the lights in the light turn on and whether electronic devices start charging when you plug them into a socket. In a similar way, check whether there is water running when you turn taps on and whether there is gas on your stove.
If you determine that you have gas, water, and electricity and your boiler is the only thing that is not working. Move on to the next step.
- Is there a fault code
Often if there is a problem with your boiler, a fault code will be displayed on the control panel. To find out what a specific fault code means, you can check your boiler’s manual or research it online.
Fault codes can vary from boiler to boiler so make sure to look for the information for your specific boiler. If you cannot find anything, you can get in touch with an engineer who will help you determine what the fault code means.
- Check boiler controls
If you complete the first two steps and you still have no hot water or no heating, you need to make sure that the boiler settings are correct. Your boiler should have separate controls to turn on the heating and hot water. You need to make sure if some of them has not been switched off by accident.
Reasons why boiler is not working
There might be many reasons why your boiler is not working but here are some common ones:
- Under or over pressure – your boiler’s pressure should be in the green zone of the indicator at the control panel. If the pressure is too high or too low, your boiler might not be producing hot water. If the indicator is not in the green zone, you have to adjust the pressure and either lower or increase it. A common reason for the boiler pressure being too low is a boiler leak.
- Broken thermostat – if your water is lukewarm but does not get hot, the fault might be linked to the thermostat not working properly.
- Frozen pipes – during winter months when temperatures drop significantly, pipes that run from the boiler to the outside of your property might freeze. If that happens, your boiler might shut down completely due to safety reasons. Luckily, this problem is easy to fix through gradually warming up the pipes. You can do it by, for example, putting a cloth over it and pouring warm water over it. After you do that, you need to restart the boiler.
- Broken timer – over time the timer in your boiler might start malfunctioning. Make sure to check whether it is set to the right time. Also, think about when the clocks go backwards or forward throughout the year because sometimes timers in boilers might go out of sync because of this.
Seek expert advice
If you have explored all the possible common causes of your boiler not heating water and you tried to fix them yourself but it did not work, you should seek expert advice.
An engineer can inspect the situation using advanced technology and equipment. Thanks to that they will be able to say what is wrong with your boiler and will come up with a solution. The problem might be more complex than you think so you should seek professional assistance before your boiler’s condition gets even worse.
Although you have to be prepared for the possibility that a boiler replacement might be necessary, do not worry as in most cases it is possible to find a cheaper and easier solution. Getting a new boiler is typically only recommended to those who have had theirs for a long while, often more than ten years.
If you do have to replace the boiler, the engineer will explain to you what the cost will be and how this cost compares to what you would have to pay for fixing the issues with your existing boiler. At first glance, it can seem like buying a new boiler is an expensive option but overtime a new boiler can result in significant savings.
How to avoid problems with the boiler
While certain problems cannot be avoided, especially if you have had your boiler for a few years, there are some things you can do to prevent it from breaking down often. The main thing is to service your boiler regularly. By doing so, you can quickly identify any problems and undertake steps to fix them. You should also regularly check your boilers for any leaks. Many ignore leaks thinking it is not a big deal. While leaks might not stop your boiler from working right away, they can lead to pressure dropping and your boiler not heating water or the property effectively. Another thing is to not delay getting in touch with engineers. If you ever have any problems with the boiler, no matter how small they seem to be, consult someone who specialises in fixing such issues. Otherwise, something that could have easily been fixed can turn into a big problem that will cost you a lot of money and effort.